Luis Gonzalez

Gonzalez, who turned 40 in September, put up numbers right in line with expectations in 2007 -- .278/.359/.433 with 15 homers and 68 RBI. His OPS dipped to .684 after the All-Star break and after losing playing time to Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp, Gonzalez punched his ticket out of town with some embarrassing remarks about the more-talented young players in the organization. There will be a place for him somewhere in 2008, though the list of teams willing to commit more than 300 at-bats to an aging outfielder with declining power and no defensive skills is expected to be small.

Gonzalez hit a career-high 52 doubles last year, but it came at the expense of his home run power. His 15 homers were his lowest since 1997, in the Astrodome. Now he's 39 years old and switching from Chase Field to Dodger Stadium, a decided downgrade in home parks. Expect further decline.

The good news is Gonzalez came back from Tommy John surgery and played all of 2005. The bad news is the Gonzo we knew for years isn't there anymore. Gonzalez turned 38 and had an .825 OPS in 2005, his worst since before coming to Arizona in 1999. As the resident local icon (and with one more guaranteed big-money year on his contract), he'll start the year as the regular left fielder. He might not hang on to that role all year if Arizona's outfield prospects continue to impress. He'll be worth far less than his likely auction price in 2006.

Gonzalez tried to play with torn elbow ligaments last season, but he underwent Tommy John surgery in early August. He'll probably be ready for spring training, and while he'll never hit 57 HR again as he did in 2001, there's certainly plenty left in the tank. Let others in your draft discount him based on his injury-affected 2004 numbers; you shouldn't.

Gonzo stood tall as the rest of the Arizona offense went down in flames in 2003, raising his batting average 16 points (.288 to .304) and his slugging average 34 points (.498 to .532) in 2003. His health is a major concern coming into 2004, however, as he's recovering from torn elbow ligaments that he decided not to have surgery on. Check his Cactus League performances before you decide to draft the steady Gonzalez at a spot commensurate with his 2002-03 numbers.

Well, Gonzo proved that his 57-homer year in 2001 was a fluke. But, his 2000 & 2002 seasons average to something like .295-30-105, so he's got a proven performance level that's among the very best in the league for corner outfielders. Surgery to repair his separated shoulder (which probably cost us all a chance to see Barry Bonds go up against Johnson & Schilling in the NLCS – damn!) went well, as has his rehab, so it appears that he'll be entirely healthy and ready to go in the spring. Gonzalez will be expensive in your league, and he'll be worth every penny.